On National Signing Day, Mizzou football signs 20 players.
Missouri’s Columbia: After creating his list, he most likely looked over it more than twice. That is the way it is with high school recruiting, with flip-based rumors, and with the age of name, image, and likeness.
Even so, Eli Drinkwitz locked in his fourth recruiting class before lunch on National Signing Day by verbally committing to all 20 Missouri football players.
Gratitude was Drinkwitz’s main theme when he spoke to reporters in the afternoon, his crewneck emblazoned with the Cotton Bowl logo and a hint of a shiny gold watch catching meeting room lights.
He stated that in order to recruit, “it takes a group of people aligned, every single day, to put their best foot forward.” “We have a group of unselfish individuals who will stop at nothing to promote the University of Missouri. I sincerely appreciate all of their efforts, and today is really about them showcasing a fantastic product and extending a warm welcome to a fantastic new class of Mizzou football players.”
The top defensive prospect in the country, Williams Nwaneri, a five-star in-state defensive end from Lee’s Summit, is the focal point of Mizzou’s 2024 class.
Along with Jude James of Francis Howell and Ryan Jostes of Washington, the Tigers signed five players from Missouri in this class.
The Vikings listed James, a versatile athlete who ranked ninth on the Post-Dispatch Super 30 countdown prior to his senior season, as a wide receiver and linebacker.
“I believe that Coach Drinkwitz and the coaching staff as a whole played a significant role. For me, the culture they create and the way they interact with each and every one of their players was really important, James stated in August. “And simply being nearer to home.” Even though I had other options to play a little bit closer, I could not pass up the awesome opportunity to play only an hour away.
MU was a natural choice for Jostes, the No. 4 recruit on the Super 30 countdown, as he was born in Columbia prior to his family moving to the east.
He declared, “I think I was meant to be a Tiger.”
Rivals.com has ranked Mizzou’s 2024 class as the 23rd best in the nation, placing them ahead of Southeastern Conference opponents Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Kentucky, Mississippi State, and Arkansas.
Football at Warrenton, Washington
On Thursday, August 31, 2023, at Warrenton High School in Warrenton, Washington’s Ryan Jostes (77) blocks Lucas Burroughs (50) of Warrenton.
Michael Gulledge—A Post-Dispatch Special—
The following 20 athletes are the ones who have formally committed to Missouri:
Williams Nwaneri, defensive end: A 6′ 6″ commitment in August, Nwaneri remained with the Tigers for his final year. He rejected offers from Oklahoma to attend MU. A five-star prospect, he leads the defensive player rankings compiled by some recruiting services.
Outside linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez is a four-star prospect who attended St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Rivals.com ranks Rodriguez as the No. 15 player in his position. Tennessee was vying for his signature as well.
James Madison, a wide receiver from St. Thomas Aquinas, is a four-star recruit who goes by the nickname “The Prez” because he shares a name with a former president. After verbally committing to Mizzou in July, Madison assumed the role of sort of recruiter.
Elias Williams, defensive end: Before schools like Alabama, Tennessee, and Louisiana State made offers to the four-star defensive end from Hudson, Florida, Mizzou was able to snag Williams’ commitment.
Running back Kewan Lacy: A four-star prospect from Lancaster, Texas, Lacy visited Mizzou in November after decommitting from Nebraska, and last week, he made his decision to play for the Tigers. Rivals.com ranks him as the sixth-best running back in the 2024 class.
Receiver Courtney Crutchfield: Crutchfield made his decision to sign quickly, announcing it on Tuesday following a visit to Missouri over the weekend. The Pine Bluff, Arkansas, wide receiver, rated four stars, had earlier pledged to Arkansas.
Whit Hafer, tight end: Ranked 13th in the state by Rivals, Hafer is a three-star tight end from Joplin. He carries on the tradition of Mizzou bringing in-state tight ends, such as Brett Norfleet from the previous class.
O-lineman Ryan Jostes, rated as the 15th best player in the state, is a three-star prospect who has verbally committed since March.
Quarterback Aidan Glover: Ranked No. 15 in his position by Rivals, Glover is a three-star dual threat quarterback from Collierville, Tennessee.
Jude James, sportsman: James’ stature of 6-4 allowed him to be effective on both sides of the ball. According to Rivals, he is the state’s No. 17 recruit.
Safety Jackson Hancock: A three-star defensive back from Canton, Georgia, Hancock quickly took advantage of MU’s interest in him.
Defense tackle Justin Bodford: Ranked 33rd in the class by Rivals, Bodford is the third-ranked player from St. Thomas Aquinas.
Cornerback Cameron Keys, a native of Lynn Haven, Florida, attracted interest from several SEC schools prior to committing over the summer.
Rivals ranks linebacker Brian Huff as the No. 5 recruit from Arkansas; however, the Tigers stole the three-star prospect from the Razorbacks.
Jaylen Brown, a defensive end, was another example of MU’s strategic recruiting; after verbally committing in August, Brown received offers from LSU and Auburn.
Austyn Dendy, sportsperson: Dendy is another top-10 Arkansas player headed north and will attend Mizzou with teammate Crutchfield from Pine Bluff.
Center Talan Chandler: In November, the nation’s fourth-ranked center transferred from Colorado to his home state of New Jersey.
Offensive tackle Jayven Richardson: Following his breakout performance at Kansas’ Hutchinson Community College, Richardson rose to prominence as one of the nation’s top junior college prospects. Missouri prevailed over several other regional universities, such as those in Kansas, Illinois, and Arkansas.
Caleb Pyfrom, offensive tackle: The Omaha, Nebraska, native, who decommitted from Illinois earlier in the week, is another recent commit. He chose the Tigers.
Cornerback Jaren Sensabaugh finished Mizzou’s class after committing on Tuesday afternoon. The Nashville defensive back had already committed to come to Vanderbilt.
